Mumbai, July 10 (IANS) Actor and dancer Raghav Juyal is celebrating his 34th birthday on Thursday and he decided to spend his special day doing what he loves the most — working.
The ‘Kill’ actor was in a dubbing studio, working on one of his upcoming projects on his birthday.Shedding light on why he decided to have a working birthday, Raghav shared, “I feel grateful to be working on my birthday. For me, being busy doing what I love is the best kind of celebration. Every year I grow a little more as an artist, and it feels good to be on that journey even today. I’m happiest when I’m creating, learning, and pushing myself — and that’s the energy I want to carry forward.”In the meantime, Juyal was welcomed on board Srikanth Odela’s action thriller, “The Paradise” on his birthday.The makers of the forthcoming drama, SLV Cinemas took to their X (Formarly known as Twitter) timeline and, wrote, “Team #TheParadise wishes the talented @TheRaghav_Juyal a very Happy Birthday. Welcoming him in a role that will be unique and will take everyone by surprise. #THEPARADISE in CINEMAS 𝟐𝟔𝐭𝐡 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐂𝐇, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔. Natural Star @NameisNani in an @odela_srikanth cinema. An @anirudhofficial musical.”It is not clear yet which role Juyal will be playing in the drama, however, if the sources are to be believed, he has been roped in as the antagonist in the film.With Nani as the protagonist, “The Paradise” marks the Natural Star’s second collaboration with the filmmaker after their blockbuster hit “Dussehra”.Produced by Sudhakar Cherukuri under the banner of SLV Cinemas, the movie will also see Sonali Kulkarni in a crucial role.At the moment, “The Paradise” is being filmed at RFC. The makers are reportedly shooting a huge action sequence choreographed by stunt master Real Satish in a specially constructed set.–IANSpm/

Srinagar, July 10 (IANS) The Omar Abdullah-led government in Jammu and Kashmir has approached Lt Governor Manoj Sinha with the demand that July 13 and December 5 should be restored as public holidays on account of Martyrs Day and the birthday of the National Conference (NC) founder, late Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, respectively.Both July 13 and December 5 were government holidays in the erstwhile J&K state and were declared as public holidays under the Negotiable Instruments Act 1881.After the abrogation of Article 370 and the division of J&K into two union territories on August 5, 2019, these two holidays were removed from the government’s list of holidays.July 13 pertains to the death of protesters who stormed the Srinagar central jail on this day in 1931 against the in camera trial of Abul Qadeer, a Pathan butler of a British officer, who had delivered a speech asking people to rise against the autocratic rule of Dogra Maharaja Hari Singh. Twenty-two protesters were killed in the firing by the prison guards, who were buried in the compound of the Naqashband Sahib shrine in the old city of Srinagar. This graveyard was later declared as the Martyrs’ Graveyard, and after Independence in 1947, this day was observed as Martyrs Day by the J&K government.Founder of the ruling NC, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah was born in the Soura locality of Srinagar outskirts on December 5, 1905, and his birthday was celebrated as a public holiday in J&K till its abolition in 2020.The NC government made an electoral commitment to get both these dates restored as public holidays once the party came to power.Sources in the NC said the government has formally asked the Lt Governor to restore these two holidays. With just two days left for July 13, there is no official word on the disposal of the NC demand by the UT’s Raj Bhawan. So far as the NC is concerned, its leaders say, “We have done what needed to be done”.–IANSsq/dpb

Chennai, July 10 (IANS) The AIADMK has launched a high-pitched social media campaign titled ‘Bye-Bye Stalin!’ to coincide with the statewide tour of party General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS).The tour is aimed at galvanizing public sentiment against the ruling DMK government ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.The campaign, spearheaded by the AIADMK’s IT wing, features an animated video that has been posted across the party’s official social media platforms and widely circulated by functionaries.The video seeks to portray the DMK regime under Chief Minister M.K. Stalin as anti-people and accuses it of reneging on key electoral promises made during the 2021 Assembly polls.A major point of contention in the campaign is the DMK government’s move to increase taxes and electricity tariffs, which the AIADMK claims has imposed a heavy burden on the common man.The video labels these decisions as “anti-people” and suggests that they reflect a growing disconnect between the government and the electorate.The AIADMK also takes aim at Chief Minister Stalin for allegedly failing to fulfil several high-profile pre-poll assurances, including the abolition of the NEET examination and the waiver of student education loans — promises that struck a chord with large sections of the youth and parents during the 2021 campaign.The campaign further criticises the DMK for discontinuing popular welfare schemes launched by the previous AIADMK government, such as the free laptop distribution programme for students and the ‘Thangathu Thali’ scheme that offered gold assistance during marriages in economically weak families.Reinforcing its long-standing charge of dynastic politics, the AIADMK video also targets CM Stalin and his family, accusing them of promoting family dominance over democratic governance.The campaign does not stop at policy critiques; it also points to deteriorating law and order, referencing the recent Kallakurichi hooch tragedy, which claimed over 60 lives, as an example of alleged administrative failure.Party insiders believe that this digital offensive, launched well in advance of the polls, will help shape the narrative on the ground and strengthen EPS’ campaign to dislodge the DMK from power.–IANSaal/rad

London, July 10 (IANS) Jasprit Bumrah and Jofra Archer will be seen in action at Lord’s, as England won the toss and elected to bat first against India in the third Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy Test on Thursday.
The five-match series is tantalisingly locked at 1-1, after England’s thrilling five-wicket win at Headingley was followed by India’s emphatic 336-run victory at Edgbaston. This is just the second time England have batted first in Tests since the Stokes-McCullum era began.After four years of absence from Test cricket due to injuries to back and elbow, Archer will make his long-awaited return to the longer format for England. “Surface is how it usually is, and the sun is out, so we’re going to have a bat. The mood is good, it’s been a well-fought two Test matches so far.””We’re pushing to come away from Lord’s 2-1. The body is good and everyone is fresh and ready to go. Everyone loves playing at Lord’s and you just have to take it all in. Quick turnaround so we used the time between games wisely,” said England captain Ben Stokes.For India, Bumrah is back into the playing eleven in place of Prasidh Krishna, which also means there’s still no room for Kuldeep Yadav. Skipper Shubman Gill said he was a bit confused about what to do and would have probably bowled first.”If there’s anything in the wicket, it’s going to be on the first few days. I think the contribution from everyone was great; that was what we were aiming for from all of us. The bowlers are feeling confident, it wasn’t easy to take all those wickets on that pitch (at Edgbaston). I feel good when the hard work pays, it’s very satisfying,” he said.Playing XIs:England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, and Shoaib BashirIndia: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Karun Nair, Shubman Gill (captain), Rishabh Pant (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Akash Deep, and Mohammed Siraj–IANSnr/

New Delhi, July 10 (IANS) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday hailed Prime Minister Narendra…

Mumbai, July 10 (IANS) Amit Sial, who plays the role of D.R. Kaarthikeyan in ‘The Hunt – The Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Case,’ reflected on his personal memory of the tragic event.

The actor shared how the emotional weight of the incident stayed with him over the years. Speaking about the time of the assassination, Sial recalled being a teenager in school. While the visual details have faded over time, he clearly remembers the emotional atmosphere that swept across the country.When asked about his memory of the day Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated, Amit Sial told IANS that he was around 16 years old and in school at the time. While he doesn’t recall the visuals clearly, he vividly remembers the atmosphere — the sense of gloom that settled over the country.“Yeah, yeah, of course, I remember. I think I was in school. I was around 16 when this happened. And yeah, very, I don’t, like, my memories entail more of a feel than visual memories. Like, I know how the country felt at that moment, how my neighbours felt, what, the kind of gloom it brought with it. I remember that clearly, yeah.”When asked whether he referred to any real-life sources to prepare for the role of D.R. Kaarthikeyan, Amit Sial shared that he extensively researched the former CBI chief’s life. He revealed that he read a great deal about Kaarthikeyan’s professional journey and watched several of his interviews available online to better understand his personality, thought process, and approach to the investigation.“Yeah, I read a lot about Mr. Karthikeyan’s life and watched several of his interviews online. I also went through many photographs available on the internet. One particular interview really helped me because he spoke about the case itself, as well as his overall service tenure and what it involved. While he didn’t go into too much detail about the investigation, that conversation gave me a good starting point. Of course, we also had the script, which was based on the book. Honestly, I didn’t have a lot of time to research the case in-depth, so I relied heavily on Nagesh bhai, the script, a few co-actors, and Mr. Bux — who, I must say, is an encyclopedia on this case.”“Still, I did as much research as I could because it was a huge responsibility to portray Mr. Karthikeyan accurately. At the very least, I wanted my effort to show that I genuinely tried to do justice to the role.”“The Hunt – The Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Case” is a gripping series directed by Nagesh Kukunoor that delves into the intricate real-life investigation following the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. The series also features Sahil Vaid, Bagavathi Perumal, and Girish Sharma. It was premiered on July 4, 2025.–IANSps/

New Delhi, July 10 (IANS) India, which is the fastest-growing major economy, is on track on its mission to clean mobility journey, Minister of State for Road, Transport and Highways, Harsh Malhotra, said here on Thursday.Addressing a session at the ‘India Energy Storage Week 2025’ here, the minister stated that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi government’s commitment to provide impetus to the green mobility and development of EV manufacturing eco-system in the country and the inception of PM E-DRIVE and FAME-II schemes are a testament to it.Further, policies like EV retrofitting regulations and toll tax exemptions for EV, are aimed at making transportation more accessible and sustainable. Malhotra stated that the transition to electric mobility is not merely a technological shift but is a national imperative to achieve climate goals, maintain economic resilience and energy security.He mentioned the Multi-Modal Logistics Parks, which are being developed by Ministry of Roads, Transport and Highways integrating road, rail, and warehousing are now being equipped with green energy provisions and EV-friendly facilities which would lead to reduced logistics costs, lower emissions, and strengthen India’s position as a clean and connected transport hub.Malhotra highlighted that PM Modi government is committed to generate 500GW of Renewable energy by 2030 and India stands at the threshold of becoming a global hub for clean mobility solutions.He urged the stakeholders to develop a transport future that is not just electric — but safe, inclusive, and environmentally responsible.“We must recognise that battery storage technologies which are tailored to India’s climate and mobility needs — will be crucial for our future,” said Malhotra, urging industry leaders to invest in R&D, manufacture locally and adopt circular solutions like battery recycling and reuse.Over the last 11 years, India has seen remarkable industrial and business growth, and this momentum is now being channelled toward achieving the 2070 Net Zero target which is the pivotal focus of the government.–IANSna/

Kochi, July 10 (IANS) The Kerala High Court on Thursday granted bail to Sukanth Suresh,…

New Delhi, July 10 (IANS) With supportive policies, fiscal incentives, reduced tariff barriers and new market access through free trade agreements (FTAs) developed countries including Australia, the UAE, the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) nations, and the UK, the agriculture sector has witnessed significant progress, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal has said.Addressing the 16th Agriculture Leadership Conclave here, the minister stated that 25 crore Soil Health Cards have been distributed to farmers to promote balanced fertiliser usage, and crop loans have been made accessible through the Kisan Credit Card initiative.Goyal said the government has consistently placed the agricultural sector at the forefront of its development agenda under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.A large number of farmer families have benefitted from the PM-KISAN Samman Nidhi scheme. Additionally, 1,400 mandis have been integrated with the e-NAM platform, enabling farmers across the country to access real-time information on crop prices and enhance market linkages.“In the fertiliser sector, the government has provided substantial subsidies to ensure that farmers receive fertilisers at affordable prices. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, timely fertiliser supply to farmers was ensured,” the minister told the gathering.He noted that India’s agricultural sector has demonstrated remarkable resilience—even amid global market turbulence and declining export trends.The efforts of Indian farmers have contributed to a stable agri-export performance, with agriculture, animal husbandry, and fisheries exports reaching Rs 4 lakh crore.The farming community has played a key role in building an Atmanirbhar Bharat and turning the “Local Goes Global” vision into a reality.Goyal said India’s farmers have been instrumental in the global success of products such as basmati and other varieties of rice, spices, fresh fruits and vegetables, horticulture and floriculture produce, as well as in the fisheries and poultry sectors.He emphasised the government’s focus on promoting digital agriculture by introducing Artificial Intelligence, geospatial technology, weather prediction systems, vertical farming, and AI-enabled tools. These innovations, he noted, would support Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and cooperatives.–IANSna/

Mumbai, July 10 (IANS) Actress Kareena Kapoor, on Thursday, took to social media to send her best wishes to Rajkummar Rao ahead of the release of his upcoming film “Maalik.”

Taking to her Instagram stories, she shared the trailer of the film and wrote, “Good luck the entire team. Kill it guys.. sending huge love watch it in cinemas tomorrow!” Bebo also tagged Rao and others in her post. It is worth noting that Kareena Kapoor and Rajkummar Rao have never shared screen space before. Her gesture of support ahead of the release of “Maalik” highlights the mutual respect within the industry, even among actors who haven’t yet collaborated.Rajkummar Rao’s action thriller Maalik was announced on the occasion of his 40th birthday. The makers later revealed that the film would be hitting theatres on July 11, 2025. Directed by Pulkit, Maalik is backed by Kumar Taurani under the Tips Films banner, along with Jay Shewakramani’s Northern Lights Films.Interestingly, the ‘Stree’ actor underwent a striking physical transformation for his role. The actor grew his beard for more than 80 days to achieve a wild, rugged appearance that exudes raw intensity on screen. Director Pulkit had shared that the look was carefully planned, as the team wanted Rajkummar to reflect a strong and unfiltered sense of power through his appearance in the film.He said, “We wanted Raj to embody a sense of raw power, something that feels lived-in, gritty, and unapologetically real. He committed to the process fully, both physically and emotionally. Rajkummar Rao grew his beard for nearly three months to embody a character bursting with wild energy. What you see in the teaser is just the beginning, there’s so much more to this character, and Rajkummar has delivered something truly special.”The film also stars Manushi Chhillar, Prosenjit Chatterjee, Medha Shankr, Huma Qureshi, Anshumaan Pushkar, and Swanand Kirkire.–IANSps/